There have been other threads about this topic - you can search, might find some helpful info. I've tried just turning on the Remote Desktop service in Tiger and then connecting using a VNC client (Chicken of the VNC) but it is pretty slow. It was usable connecting to my Mac Mini from my PC on my home network, but not great. When I tried connecting to my Mac Mini from work over the internet it was unusable. I just use SSH access when I am away now - I can't do everything but I can get access to my files and stuff. I'd be able to do more if I knew more bash commands, etc.

I would hope Apple's Remote Desktop is much better, but I'm with you - I don't want to spend $300 for this functionality to work well. Plus Apple doesn't make a Windows client for RD. This probably wouldn't matter in your case, but it's important to me.

IMO, Windows Remote Desktop rocks - it is very responsive, even over the net (at least at broadband speeds). Plus it is free with XP Pro and they make clients for most/all Windows versions and OS X.

I don't think there are any great solutions on the cheap out there. I hope you find something though, I'd be interested too. I'll keep my eye on this thread.

Actually what you have to watch out for when using VNC is the grapgics details. The higher the color option, the more data that has to get sent back and forth. Try thousands of colors and 256 colors to see if either improves the useabilitity.

Actually what you have to watch out for when using VNC is the grapgics details. The higher the color option, the more data that has to get sent back and forth. Try thousands of colors and 256 colors to see if either improves the useabilitity.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I'll give that a try. I'm most certain I was only using thousands of colors before but I'll make sure and try 256 as well - though 256 is rather ugly but if it is more responsive and functional, I'll take it!

I run thousands when using Windows Remote Desktop across the net and it's still pretty snappy.

i hope im not jumping the gun again but all seems well now using chicken of the vnc.

i was on the verge of an impulse buy of a monitor yesterday but instead decided ill stick it out over the weekend to see what i can learn and tweak settings etc.

The only thing ive done is hook the mac mini up the router via cable rather than wireless (no problem) and now it works fine connecting to it wirelessly with my powerbook. It worked all day yesterday and all night encoding and downloading and i was able to open chicken as and when i liked and get an almost instance connection and response times. There is a .05 to 1 delay - which is perfectly fine. Im able to do everything i want without any problems. So my guess is that having two wireless computers (and 2 other neighbour wireless routers!) buzzing around the room was not help full in maintaining a consistent connection.

This is where im at today and fingers crossed i wont have any further problems... thereby saving me money

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